Minutes:
The Overview and Scrutiny Officer referred to recent press articles that fell within the remit of Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The articles were:
· Climate Change: UK government to commit to 2050 target – Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK would be cut to almost zero by 2050 under the terms of a new government plan to tackle climate change. The UK already had a target to reduce emissions by 80% but would now be amended to the new much tougher goal.
· County Durham road reopens following sinkhole – The B1404 Seaton Lane, which had to be closed following the discovery of a sinkhole had reopened after less than two weeks.
· Going green to keep Durham’s streets clean – Durham County Council are trialling new electric cleaning equipment as part of its fight against climate change. Members of the Clean and Green Team had been using a new electric bin lift and road sweeper to empty the County’s wheelie bins and clean its streets.
· Funding win will help restore County Durham woodland – A scheme that aims to improve County Durham’s woodland had been awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of funding. The Durham Woodland Revival project had been awarded £434,200 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore and reconnect woodland in the county. The funding would allow the Council to work with partners Woodland Trust, Northwoods, Wear Rivers Trust and the Forestry Commission to bring neglected and under-manged woodland back into good condition to boost woodland cover over a four-year period, starting this summer.
Councillor Carr asked for a map to show the areas of woodland covered under the project. The Overview and Scrutiny Officer responded that she would obtain a map to show the areas.
The Chair advised Members that there was going to be a climate change expo in the Durham Room at County Hall on 17 July 2019 to showcase services and technologies from across the region that were tackling climate change. There would be an opportunity to test drive fully electric vehicles and to look at a fully electric refuse collection vehicle.
Councillor Howell commented that the event had been promoted outside of the County and Darlington Borough Council members had been invited.
Resolved: That the presentation be noted.